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Preview: Pro12, Round Four

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:59

As Round Four of the Pro12 opens, a Welsh region still tops the table. However, it is not last season’s winners, Ospreys, but their opponents on Friday, Scarlets, setting the pace.

The Llanelli-based side have so far dropped just one point out of a possible 15, whilst Ospreys are still looking for their first victory of this campaign.

Also on Friday Glasgow Warriors play their second game at their new home of Scotstoun Stadium, this time Connachtare the visitors.

The Irish province do not have a very good record in Glasgow and after their impressive victory over the reigning champions in the last round, Warriors will be looking to secure their first win at their new venue.

Six teams are in action on Saturday with two games in Ireland and one in Wales, and all three home teams, Leinster, Munster and Cardiff Blues, have a won two lost one record so far in this campaign.

Benetton Treviso are the visitors to Wales where they face Cardiff Blues, a team they have never beaten, at the Arms Park.

Edinburgh, who travel to Dublin to face Leinster, have not returned with a win from city since 2005, whilst it has been even longer since Munster’s opponents, Newport Gwent Dragons, tasted victory at Thomond Park - March 2004.

Following the death of Ulster’s Nevin Spence at the weekend, the fixture between Zebre and Ulster, scheduled to be played on Friday, has been postponed.

Friday, September 21

Glasgow Warriors v Connacht(Scotstoun Stadium, 19.35pm GMT)

Glasgow Warriors gained a notable opening win of the PRO12 season courtesy of their 28-10 victory against reigning champions Ospreys at Liberty Stadium on Friday.

The Warriors’ only victory in their last six PRO12 encounters with Irish provinces was 24-3 against Connacht in this equivalent fixture last season.

Connacht’s solo win in their last four contests was over Italian new boys Zebre in round two. The Irishmen have recorded just one victory in Scotland since 2006: 19-17 against Glasgow at Firhill on 17 September 2010.

The Warriors’ 24-3 win over Connacht at Firhill in May snapped a four game winless run against the Irish province. Connacht have triumphed just twice on Glasgow home turf, in 2003 and 2010

Scarlets continue to set the pace in the PRO12, dropping just one possible point from their first three encounters when they failed to score four tries in overcoming Glasgow in round two.

Scarlets are unbeaten in their last ten matches at Parc y Scarlets in the tournament, and have not lost to a fellow Welsh region in the competition since they visited Liberty Stadium on 27 December 2010.

The only other time that Ospreys have begun a season with three successive defeats was in 2007/08. Ospreys have won their last three clashes with fellow Welsh sides in all competitions.

Scarlets’ 22-14 victory over Ospreys last Boxing Day ended a seven game winless sequence against their nearest rivals.

Strangely, all three of Cardiff Blues’ Pro12 matches so far this season have been won by the away side on the day.

The Blues won 16-5 at the Dragons on Friday, but have not managed back to back victories in the tournament since last February.

The Welsh region has a perfect played 13, won 13 record in previous encounters with Italian opponents in all competitions.

Benetton Treviso have slipped to successive PRO12 defeats to Irish powerhouses Munster and Leinster, although the latter reversal was by the narrowest of margins, the Italians having been in the lead with seconds left. Treviso have won their last two games against Welsh regions.

The Blues have won all four previous encounters between the two teams.

Leinster have secured back to back victories in the Pro12, although they had Jonathan Sexton to thank for their 19-18 success in Treviso on Saturday - the Irish flyhalf kicking the winning penalty goal in the 79th minute.

The Leinstermen are undefeated in their last six clashes with Scottish sides in all competitions.

Edinburgh have also been victorious in their last two fixtures, against the Blues and Zebre. The Scotsmen have not won three in a row in the tournament since October 2010.

Edinburgh have lost their last eight encounters with Irish provinces.

Leinster have won five of their last six matches against Edinburgh, whilst the only Scottish side to beat Leinster on their own soil since Edinburgh did so at Donnybrook in 2005, was Glasgow in September 2011.

Munster lost their 100 percent winning start to the PRO12 with their narrow 19-20 defeat at Ulster on Friday.

The Munstermen have won their last three home games, whilst the only Welsh side to win on Munster turf since April 2010 was Ospreys in October 2011.

Newport Gwent Dragons have slipped to successive defeats at the hands of Leinster and Cardiff Blues. Dragons’ solitaryvictory in their last 13 fixtures against Irish opponents was 22-9 at home to Ulster in September 2011.

The Men from Gwent have won just once in Ireland since 2004: 16-14 against Ulster at Ravenhill on 19 September 2008.

Munster have won their last three encounters with the Dragons, whilst the Newport Gwent side have won just once in Munster - on their very first visit to Thomond Park on 12 March 2004.